Sheffield woman voices rail line air pollution “poisoning” fear
Residents speak out about impact of train emissions and noise next to their homes
A Sheffield woman is worried that she is being “poisoned” by diesel emissions from trains on the rail line next to her home.
Neighbours Yvonne Newey and Shauna Naylor asked Sheffield City Council for help with noise and air pollution issues after Network Rail installed the signal on the Hope Valley railway line in Totley two years ago.
Ms Newey told the council’s transport, regeneration and climate policy committee on October 21 that freight trains halt with engines idling for long periods.
She said the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says that diesel locomotives can cause high nitrogen dioxide concentrations within 30 metres of a track, which is how close her home is.
“As your own air quality team did not possess the monitoring equipment required, we keep our own recordings. They suggest we are being poisoned,” she said.
She said that council environmental protection officers have recorded noise levels exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines associated with ill health, heart attacks and strokes.
Ms Newey said that Network Rail has told the council the firm is dealing with complaints but she doesn’t believe that.
Ms Naylor said: “My husband and I moved to a bungalow for health in a quiet, clean and eco-friendly environment, essential for our livelihood in a wellbeing practice and my husband’s health, as he suffers from asthma and nocturnal epilepsy.”
She added: “Now, train engines idle outside like a garage, also causing severe property devaluation.
“The constant vibrations and minute-long screeching brakes disrupt my husband’s vital sleep – endangering his epilepsy management and triggering his asthma much more progressively – and now additionally have triggered severe migraines for me.”
Committee chair Councillor Alexi Dimond responded that the council is putting a diffusion tube air pollution monitoring system in place near the rail line.
Network Rail carried out a noise survey in 2025 in response to a council request.
“We have gone back to them and requested a copy of the survey and asked them what their proposals are for dealing with the noise,” said Coun Dimond.
“They have advised us that they are currently taking legal advice and are unable to provide us with the requested information until they have done this.”